Contemplative Haven: Love Wounds (A Snippet from the 6th) 
Love Wounds (A Snippet from the 6th)
One of the benefits of the trials in the Sixth Mansions is that the soul gains courage, enabling it to "make a higher flight". Before the soul enters into the Spiritual Marriage, which will take place in the Seventh Mansions, the Lord fills it with "fervent desire, by means so delicate that the soul itself does not understand them." These experiences come about in a very different manner than other consolations we have seen - for example, those which may be experienced in the Prayer of Quiet. The soul may be somewhat prepared for consolations during an actual time of prayer or reflection, but these ones often occur, "when a person is quite unprepared for such a thing, and is not even thinking of God."
St. Teresa describes how the soul may be suddenly awakened by the Lord, "as though by a rushing comet or a thunderclap", although no external sound is heard. It knows immediately that it has been called by God, and may begin to "tremble and complain". The soul becomes aware that it has been "delectably wounded". It knows that the Lord is very near, but is not manifesting His Presence in any way that the soul can grasp in union. The soul is in love, and this experience is such a combination of love and grief that it cries out to the Lord, and yet it is a suffering of which the soul would never desire to be healed. St. Teresa tells us that it is as if the Lord, Who is in the Seventh Mansions of the soul, is "calling the soul in a way which involves no clear utterance of speech."
St. Teresa likens this experience to two things: one, as if the soul has been wounded by an arrow; two, as if, from the Fire which is God, a spark has flown out and touched the soul. The spark produces heat, a burning desire, but not enough to fully set the soul on fire. The experience comes and goes, and "leaves the soul yearning once again to suffer that loving pain."
St. Teresa tells us that this is not something which can be counterfeited by the devil; although he is able to cause pain, and he is able to counterfeit spiritual delights, he is incapable of uniting the two. The devil cannot, according to St. Teresa, unite great pain in the soul with tranquillity and joy.
The effect of love wounds is that the soul, generally, "becomes filled with a determination to suffer for God's sake and to desire to have many trials to endure, and to be very much more resolute in withdrawing from the pleasures and intercourse of this world..."
St. Teresa describes how the soul may be suddenly awakened by the Lord, "as though by a rushing comet or a thunderclap", although no external sound is heard. It knows immediately that it has been called by God, and may begin to "tremble and complain". The soul becomes aware that it has been "delectably wounded". It knows that the Lord is very near, but is not manifesting His Presence in any way that the soul can grasp in union. The soul is in love, and this experience is such a combination of love and grief that it cries out to the Lord, and yet it is a suffering of which the soul would never desire to be healed. St. Teresa tells us that it is as if the Lord, Who is in the Seventh Mansions of the soul, is "calling the soul in a way which involves no clear utterance of speech."
St. Teresa likens this experience to two things: one, as if the soul has been wounded by an arrow; two, as if, from the Fire which is God, a spark has flown out and touched the soul. The spark produces heat, a burning desire, but not enough to fully set the soul on fire. The experience comes and goes, and "leaves the soul yearning once again to suffer that loving pain."
St. Teresa tells us that this is not something which can be counterfeited by the devil; although he is able to cause pain, and he is able to counterfeit spiritual delights, he is incapable of uniting the two. The devil cannot, according to St. Teresa, unite great pain in the soul with tranquillity and joy.
The effect of love wounds is that the soul, generally, "becomes filled with a determination to suffer for God's sake and to desire to have many trials to endure, and to be very much more resolute in withdrawing from the pleasures and intercourse of this world..."
posted by Gabrielle at 11:50 AM
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